UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 4, Page 4
September 21, 1995
Sexual Assault Awareness Week events to begin Oct. 8
Nationally syndicated advice columnist Ellen Gootblatt and
internationally known media critic Jean Kilbourne are two of the
speakers scheduled during the University's annual Sexual Assault
Awareness Week, scheduled Sunday through Friday, Oct. 8-13.
Focused on heightening the awareness of students, faculty, staff
and the community about the issues surrounding sexual assault, the
week includes many special programs and events, all free and open to
the public.
Gootblatt, who is an author and the former host of the top-rated
ABC-TV talk show Getting Together with Ellen Gootblatt, will open the
week with a talk on "Meeting, Dating, Relating and Mating: 250
Important Questions to Ask Before You Go Further," at 8:30 p.m.,
Sunday, Oct. 8. Her talk, which also is the title of her latest book,
will be held in the Hen Zone, on the lower level of the Perkins
Student Center.
The Gootblatt talk is being held immediately after a "Take Back
Our Campus March," scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m., beginning and ending at
the Perkins Student Center. The march, in support of sexual assault
awareness and victims' rights, will feature remarks by members of the
University community.
Kilbourne, a well-known lecturer and writer, will present "The
Naked Truth: Advertising's Images of Women" from 7-8:30 p.m., Monday,
Oct. 9, in the auditorium of Pearson Hall. Kilbourne has twice
received the Lecturer of the Year Award from the National Association
for Campus Activities. Her award-winning lectures and films include
Killing Us Softly, Calling the Shots and Pack of Lies, all of which
reveal the serious cumulative impact of advertising on individual
attitudes, values and behavior. In her Newark talk, she will explore
the relationship of media images to actual problems in society, such
as violence, sexual abuse of children, rape and sexual harassment,
pornography and censorship, teenage pregnancy and eating disorders.
Back by popular demand, the group Power Plays will perform twice
on Tuesday, Oct. 10. The group will use audience interaction to
perform a program about domestic violence from noon to 1:30 p.m. in
the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center. That evening, Power
Plays will present a program about acquaintance rape with audience
members interviewing the characters to uncover the issues, from 7-9
p.m. in Pearson Hall.
The complete schedule includes:
Sunday, Oct. 8
* Take Back Our Campus March, 7-8:30 p.m., Perkins Student Center.
* "Meeting, Dating, Relating and Mating," with Ellen Gootblatt,
8:30 p.m., Hen Zone, Perkins Student Center.
Monday, Oct. 9
* "Friends Helping Friends," scenarios of friends helping survivors
of sexual assault and dating/partner violence, noon-1 p.m.,
Collins Room, Perkins Student Center. Facilitators include
members of the UD Sexual Offense Support Services (SOS) and Donna
Tuites, assistant director of the Office of Women's Affairs.
* "Sexual Assertiveness," male and female workshop participants
will examine attitudes/ behavior that can lead to
miscommunication and will focus on building assertiveness skills
as a way of reducing the likelihood of unwanted sexual contact
with dating partners. Scheduled from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Ewing
Room of the Perkins Student Center. Sharon Mitchell, counseling
psychologist in the Center for Counseling and Student
Development, will facilitate.
* "RAD, Rape Aggression Defense Systems Demonstration," with David
Finnie, master police officer, UD Police. Scheduled from 4-5 p.m.
in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center, the program is
designed for every woman and includes techniques that can change
the way women feel about their ability to defend themselves.
* "The Naked Truth: Advertising's Images of Women," with Jean
Kilbourne, 7-8:30 p.m., Pearson Hall auditorium.
* Campus Safety Walk, to assess the general safety of the campus
after dark. The walk begins at 8:30 p.m. at the Perkins Student
Center and is sponsored by the Delaware Undergraduate Student
Congress.
Tuesday, Oct. 10
* "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: What It Is and How To Stop
It," a morning talk on sexual harassment, an explosive issue in
today's workplace. Scheduled from 8-9:30 a.m., the talk will be
facilitated by Liane Sorenson, director, and Donna Tuites,
assistant director, both in the Office of Women's Affairs, and
Richie Holland, employee development and training administrator.
A light breakfast with pastries and beverages will be provided.
* Power Plays, a program on domestic violence, noon-1:30 p.m.,
Rodney Room, Perkins Student Center.
* "Sexual Abuse and Community Awareness: 1990s Legal Issues," a
session with Attorney General M. Jane Brady to explore recently
proposed laws that have an impact on sexual assault and abuse.
From 3:30-5 p.m. in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student
Center.
* Power Plays, a program on acquaintance rape, 7-9 p.m., Pearson
Hall auditorium.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
* "A Reconceptualization of Violence Against Women in African-
American Heterosexual Relationships" explores the issue with
particular focus on traditional intervention strategies and the
needs of African-American women who have suffered abuse from
current or past male partners. From 12:20-1:10 p.m. in the Ewing
Room, Perkins Student Center, featuring Robin Beads, Center for
Community Development.
* "Beyond Sexual Assault: Issues in Healing" explores the potential
short-and long-term effects of sexual assault. Facilitators
include Jane Gilbert, counseling psychologist in the Center for
Counseling and Student Development, and a representative of
Sexual Offense Support Service. From 3:30-5 p.m. in the Collins
Room, Perkins Student Center.
* "Guilty or Not Guilty of Sexual Assault: You Decide." Take a look
"behind the scenes" in the Office of the Dean of Students for a
close-up view at the administrative judicial process on campus
and participate in the decision-making process of a case of
acquaintance rape. Scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. in Pencader Commons
1.
* "Lost in the Crowd: Lesbians and Sexual Assault" highlights
research on sexual assault that lesbians experience. From 7-8:30
p.m. in the Collins Room, Perkins Student Center, the program is
presented by Catherine Simile, Women's Studies Interdisciplinary
Program.
Thursday, Oct. 12
* "Personal Safety: Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention," a
brown bag luncheon lecture by Sgt. Pam Marshak of the Delaware
State Police Crime Prevention Office, who will discuss common
sense tips for both men and women to avoid becoming a crime
victim. Scheduled from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Rodney Room of the
Perkins Student Center.
* "Confronting Hate-Violence: An Example of Campus Research."
Carole Sheffield, professor of political science and women's
studies at William Paterson College, will discuss a 1990 survey
conducted there concerning campus violence, the results and the
college's response. From 3-4:30 p.m. in the Rodney Room of the
Perkins Student Center.
* "Rape Is Violence, Not Sex-Or Is It?" Charlene Muehlenhard,
associate professor of psychology and women's studies at the
University of Kansas, will discuss the implications of
conceptualizing rape as sex versus violence and address the
history of the controversy. From 7-8:30 p.m. in Pearson Hall.
From Monday through Friday, resource tables-with information on
the week's activities and materials on sexual assault and related
campus and community services-will be set up in the Perkins Student
Center and student dining halls. On Friday, Oct. 13, the Pencader
residence life staff will have a resource table at the Homecoming
Carnival, scheduled from 2-5 p.m. on Harrington Beach behind the
Perkins Student Center.
Sexual Assault Awareness Week is sponsored by numerous campus
units and organizations.
For more information on any of the week's events, call the
University's Office of Women's Affairs at 831-8063 or the Office of
the Dean of Students at 831-2116.
-Gerry Elter